YORBA LINDA – Some residents upset about an Islamic group holding a fundraiser this Sunday at the Yorba Linda Community Center want the event shut down.

Specifically, they say, keynote speakers Imam Siraj Wahhaj and Amir Abdel Malik Ali are radical Muslims. Some residents have called for a "peaceful protest" at the Community Center on Sunday night.

The Islamic Circle of North America is holding the fundraiser. Representatives of the group could not be reached for comment. The event's flyer said the money raised would be used for the organization's Relief USA division, providing such services as women's housing, disaster response and funeral and burial assistance.

The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) promotes "connections between Islam and the public" and "works closely with many national interfaith organizations for the betterment of society,'' its website says.

The Islamic Circle is renting the Community Center; the fundraiser is not sponsored by the city.

Mayor Nancy Rikel said residents have let her know how they feel.

"I've probably received 75 e-mails. They've demanded that we not allow that the event takes place," she said.

"I hope we can move through Sunday in a peaceful manner and respect each other," the mayor said, "even though we disagree."

Yorba Linda resident Christmas Simon said she will participate in Sunday's protest.

Simon, whose family is Christian, said she grew up in Iran under Muslim law, a political ideology she said some Muslim groups would like to implement in the United States.

"This is what we're concerned about," Simon said. "This is what we're trying to prevent."

Bay Area Islamic activist Amir Abdel Malik Ali spoke last year as part of "Israeli Apartheid Week" presented by the Muslim Student Union at UCI, meant to focus on Palestine.

At that event, Malik Ali stated he supports Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas is a grassroots movement with Palestinian followers. It opposes Israeli existence and has carried out suicide bombings in Israel. Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization believed to have Iranian ties that the CIA labels a terrorist group. Hezbollah is blamed for the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beruit that killed 240 soldiers.

At the invitation of student groups, Malik Ali has spoken at UCI in previous years.

In 1991, Wahhaj became the first Muslim to give an invocation at Congress.

Amir Abdel Malik Ali in a light moment while answering question during a past UCI visit. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Pro-Israeli demonstrators mach behind Amir Abdel Malik Ali during the Iman's noontime speech last year at UCI. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Pro-Israeli demonstrators march behind Amir Abdel Malik Ali during the Iman's speech last year at UCI. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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